Mechanically operated merchandise machine

ABSTRACT

A mechanically operated coin controlled merchandising machine requiring a relatively light operating power. An operating bar is actuating directly a differential control mechanism which is performing a simultaneous sensing action to two incremental inputs which are a credit information and a vend price information. A sufficient credit input as compared to vend price input will allow a lock opening and a merchandise delivery. A further opening of the lock, in case of an excessive credit, is used as an input to a changemaking mechanism which is selecting a number of changeblades and pulling coins out of a cointube. A light spring required to actuate the differential sensing mechanism and a relatively short stroke required to dispense solid stacked merchandise, using a shuttling frame, are keeping the total operating power to a very low level as compared to existing machines of this kind.

nited States Patent [191 Kull 1 1 Jan.30, 1973 1541 MECHANICALLY OPERATED MERCHANDISE MACHINE [76] lnventor: Leo Kull, 58 Westover Avenue,

West Caldwell, NJ. 07006 22, Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 185,151

[52-] US. Cl. ..22l/125, 133/4 R, 194/] L,

l94/D1G. 3 [51] Int. Cl. ..G07f 11/22 [58] Field of Search ..22l/125 194/1 L, D1G.'3,

i94/DIG 19.13'3/4 [56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,135,271 6/1964 Krakauer ..l33/4 3,360,091 12/1967 Baum ..22l/125 Primary Emminer- RobertB R eeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky 57 ABSTRACT A mechanically operated coin controlled merchandising machine requiring a relatively light operating power. An operating bar is actuating directly a differential control mechanism which is performing a simultaneous sensing action to two incremental inputs which are a credit information and a vend price information. A sufficient credit input as compared to vend price input will allow a lock opening and a merchandise delivery. A further openingof the lock, in case of an excessive credit, is used as an input to a changemaking mechanism which is selecting a number of changeblades and pulling coins out of a cointube. A light spring required to actuate the differential sensing mechanism and a relatively short stroke required to dispense solid stacked merchandise, using a shuttling.

frame, are keeping the total operating power to a very low level as compared to existing machines of this kind. I

18 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 30 ms 7 3,713,562

SHEET 2 [IF 5 INVENTOR PATENTEDJAHBOIBIS 3,713,562

SHEET 3 or 5 IN MENTOR PAIENIEDJAHO I975 3.713.562

sum 4 OF 5 OPERATING STROKE ,LOCKLINE OPERATING ENGAGEMENT TO BAR 36 SL'DE 33 ONLY one CAN PROCEED '-FULL STROKE PAWL 62 W TOTALIZER 14 "0" v 4 a 2 l B VEND PRICE 4 }COMPUTING MECHANISM L"- 9.23.? -CHANGE BLADES 449 (CM/H) RESET -COlN ACCEPTANCE --r MERCHANDISE DELIVERY RELEASE DASHPOT (167) OR HOLDING LEVER 2H CHANGEMAKER CHANGE BLADES I49 1 4 CREDIT CREDIT 8+6 mm 34 a+v WITH BASE pmce "6" WITH ease PRICE |2a4s v N0 BASE PRICE VEND PRICE CHANGE BLADES INVENTQR PATENTEU JAN 3 0 I975 SHEET 5 BF 5 INVENTOR 1 (if ji wzf MECHANICALLY OPERATED MERCHANDIS MACHINE In this class of vending machines a controlled sequence of actions is taking place permitting an operator to obtain a merchandise if a required amount of coins is inserted into a coin slot. The power to activate this mechanism is coming from the operator. He is selecting one of the operating knobs which is visually keyed to a merchandise column and is pulling or pushing this knob. He can obtain his merchandise if the machine has received a required amount of coins as marked for this particular column. On the other hand, if the amountof coins is less than required, the machine has to stay locked and there will be no release of I merchandise. While the parts of the control mechanism can be relatively light, the few parts required to keep the machine locked must have sufficient strength, so any attempt by a thief or vandal will not break them.

,Thus the purpose of the control mechanism is to control the release ofa locking mechanism which will open only when a required amount of coins is inserted intoa coin slot. The control of the lock release is a result of the value of inserted coins and asked vend price. If these two are equal, the lock will open, but if the value of inserted coins is less than the asked vend price, the

lock must stay closed.

The existing mechanisms of this kind contain a greatnumber of operating parts and spring loaded linkages in the control system and merchandise delivery units. They are the cause of an objectionally high operating power, reduced reliability and difficult servicing. Those ferential mechanism which can simultaneously sense two inputs and control an unlocking mechanism as its output.

A further object is to provide a compact parallel motion linkage which can directly work against a lockpawl and operate the differential mechanism with minimal frictional losses.

It is-a'further object to provide a compact arrangement of parts, leaving more space in the cabinet for merchandise storage. 1

A further object is to provide a light acting credit input means from a totalizing unit which has provision for a quick adjustment of a minimum or base price.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simplified selector mechanism, connectable to the output of the differential mechanism, for the purpose of pulling changeblades ofa changemaking mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a merchandise dispensing mechanism for solid merchandise which does not add much operating power to the system.

Generally, the system consists of a coin handling section which includes the wellknown units known as a slug rejector and totalizer with an escrow bucket which system has to be an incremental motion where one incremental advance takes place for each smallest unit of the coins i.e., one increment per a 5 cent value, for instance.

The other section of the machine consists of a series of merchandise columns, each provided with a dispensing mechanism which is connected to an operating knob for customer operation. The operating action itself consists of a forward and return stroke, which can be called the operating sequence. Each operating knob will deliver its operating power to a common parallel linkage, known as an operating bar, which in turn will control the lock mechanism.

The first action within the operating sequence when a knob is activated, is interlocking all the other knobs in a wellknown manner. Then a novel computing action takes place which consists of comparing the value ofinserted coins with the vend price assigned to the knob in action. If this computing action releases the lock, a' further sequence of wellknown actions takes place: a

fullstroke pawl insures that the operating knob completes the stroke and returns it, allowing no possibility to any kind of faulty operation, the totalizer will be reset to its home position, coins will be released from escrow bucket and guided to cash box, changeblades will be pulled if a changemaker is used and change is due and only during return stroke when the mechanism is fully returned to its home position, is the merchandise released to a delivery tray.

The invention is illustrated and described in the following drawings, diagrams and specification which are showing and describing the basic arrangement of the system without a framework:

FIG. I is a basic arrangement of all the operating parts in the control system;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front and side views of the totalizer credit input disk;

FIG. 4 is an adjustable vend price input lever;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front and side views of a modified differential mechanism;

FIG. 7 is another modification of a differential linkage;

FIG. 8 shows a changemaking mechanism which can be added to the basic mechanism of FIG. 1 or to modifications of FIGS. 5 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional top view of changemaking mechanism, taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows the changemaker mechanism with three changeblades pulled;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the differential linkage as shown also in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 shows schematically the differential linkage as it appears in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the operating sequence of the mechanism;

FIG. 14 is a top view ofa merchandise column;

FIG. 15 is a front view ofa merchandise column;

FIG. 16 is a side view ofa merchandise column;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary front view of a merchandise column as inFIG. 15, but in a different position;

FIG. 18 is a top view showing a modification of a merchandise column;

FIG. 19 is a sectional side view taken along the line 1919 ofFIG. l;

FIGS. 20 and 21 show a modified changemaking mechanism.

COIN HANDLING UNITS FIG. 1 is showing the basic control mechanism as a one plane mechanism without a framework. In coin handling area there is a coin validating unit 10, known as slug rejector, with its coin chute 11 and coin return actuator 12. Right underneath the slug rejector is a unit 13, known as totalizer. Its purpose is to receive all the coins from slug rejector and provide an incremental output motion to a stepped disk 14 in a manner that each smallest unit of coins, used in system, will advance disk 14 one increment. In the following description a value of 1 is assigned to each increment, while in practice such a value usually is 5 cents.

The totalizer disk 14 is fastened adjustably and with a one-directional spring bias to a totalizer output shaft 15 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A bushing 16 is fastened to shaft 15 by means of a pin 17 which also holds one end of a torsion spring 18 and acts as a rest to an arm 19 which receives the other biased end of torsion spring 18, keeping them together thereby. Arm 19 has a bentover portion 20 which is secured to a bushing 21 and the latter being rotatably mounted to shaft 15. Bushing 21 further rotatably supports the indexable totalizer disk 14 which has a slot with marked indexing teeth 22, each carrying a base price indicia. Teeth 22 are made to receive a bentover portion 23 of arm 20 and disk 14 itself is forced against the face of arm 20 by I means of a bowed spring washer 24. As shown in FIG.

3, shaft 15 will rotate disk 14 in a counterclockwise direction as the totalizer-is advancing incrementally but in case disk 14 is blocked, the shaft 15 can continue its rotation against the light torsion spring 18 and as soon the blocking of disk 14 is removed, it will catch up shaft 15.

All the coins from totalizer 13 will fall to an escrow bucket 25, the bottom of which being blocked by a plate 26 which is pivotally mounted to an arm 27 at 28. Arm 27 is again pivotally mounted to the base of totalizer 13 at 29. Guidepins 30 and 31 act to tilt the plate 26 one way or the other when the arm 27 is pivoted against a centering spring 32. The purpose of this is to empty the escrow bucket 25 to cash box (right) or tov a coin return tray (left), (not shown).

OPERATING MECHANISM In FIG. 1 there are a series of vertically movable operating slides 33 which can be guided in any suitable framework (not shown). A knob 34, which can have any convenient shape and which normally will extend through any opening in a cabinet door (not shown), is used to transmit the power of the operator to operating slide 33. The latter in turn is resting against a pin 35 of an operating bar 36. Slide 33 has also a wedge 37 which can move between locking slides 38 which are horizontally guided in a wellknown manner where they all touch each other and where the motion of one of the slides 33 locks all the others. The last lockslide on each end could have a spring 39 and 40 which keep them centered with the wedges 37.

During the very first part of the stroke any slide 33 can activate the price information, assigned to it, by means of a price lever 41 which has a tooth 42 received by a notch 43 in slides 33. Price lever 41 has a pivot 44 in frame and it has an adjustable length price information arm 46 with vend price indicia keyed to notches 47, (FIG. 4). A slide 48 can be set on arm 46 by first giving it a clockwise twist against a resilient arm 49 and then setting another arm 50 to a desired notch on arm 48. Both the slide 48 and lever 41 could be conveniently manufactured from a plastic material. Price lever 41 further has another arm 51 which acts as a stop against its slide 33 throughout its entire stroke. As the slide 34 is pulled downward, the tooth 42 in notch 43 will swing the lever 41 in a counterclockwise direction to a horizontal position which sets a price information stop 52 in a position where its information will be received as described later.

The operating bar 36, which extends across the entire width of the machine, has a parallel motion permitting it to be operated by any of the slides 33. Various yoke and gear segment type arrangements are used in similar machines with the disadvantage of rather large frictional losses and extra space requirement. The illustrated parallel linkage has two (or three for a wider machine) bellcranks 53 and 54 with another connecting link 55 on the bottom. Each bellcrank has a pivot 56 and 57 secured to frame and bars 36 and 55 are tied pivotally to bellcranks 53 and 54 with shoulder rivets 58.

The ends of operating slides 33 have a notch 59 which will be engaged to the pins 35 as the motion of operating bar 36 continues. As FIG. 1 shows, the operating slides 33 have a vertical straightline motion while each pin 35 is moving on an arc. The relationship of a pin 35 and notch 59 is such that when the bar 36 moves, a pin 35 will pass its notch 59, but when a slide 33 starts pushing the pin 35 and bar 36, they soon will engage and stay engaged throughout the stroke because the operating arc of pin 35 is selected not to be symmetrical about the centerline passing through centers 56 and 57. The reason for this engagement becomes apparent later.

The motion of bar 36 is causing a limited counterclockwise rotation to bellcranks 53 and 54 whenever one of the operating slides 33 is moved downward. The area of bellcrank 54 is made large so that other features can be conveniently incorporated to it. There is a return spring 60 anchored to frame at 61 and other end to bellcrank 54. It serves the purpose of returning the operating bar 36 to its normal position and it will also supply power to release a merchandise, as described later.

A wellknown fullstroke pawl 62 is pivotally secured to frame at 63 with its centerline set to pass through center 57 by means of a centering spring 64 which is secured to frame at 65. The pawl 62 will coact with teeth 66 in bellcrank 54 in a manner that after a certain pretravel the pawl 62 will engage teeth 66 permitting only the motion of bellcrank 54 in a counterclockwise direction. When the stroke of a slide 33 is completed, the teeth 66 end and a clearance 67 permits the'spring 64 to restore the pawl 62 to its normal centered position. During the return stroke of bellcrank 54 an identical action will take place but the pawl 62 will act in the opposite direction and another clearance 68 makes the pawl 62 free at the end of the return stroke.

Bellcrank 54 is further used to open the escrow bucket 25 for dumping the coins to a cashbox. A lever 69, pivotally secured to frame at 70, has an arm 71 coacting with an ear 72 bent over from the stock of bellcrank 54. After a lost motion the ear 72 will contact arm 71 and through a connecting link 73 will move arm 27 to a position where it will move the plate 26 to the left and down dumping the coins in escrow bucket 25 to the right, so they can fall into a cashbox (not shown).

The operating bar 36 or bellcrank 54 is further supplying the necessary motion required to reset the totalizer 13 and erase any existing credit rating in it. A lever 74, pivotally secured to frame at 75, has a connecting link 76 with a bentover portion 77 which will be contacted by bar 36 after a lost motion as the latter moves downward. The motion of lever 74 will coact with the totalizer 13 to reset the latter in any suitable manner.

Lever 74 has another arm 78 which will coact with a pin 79, secured to a coin return slide 30. The latter is acting parallel to operating slides 33 and is interlocked to them with an extra lockslide 38. This puts the coin return slide 80 to same kind of interlocking category as any other operating slide 33. The coin return slide 80 has an operating knob 81 which can be in line with knobs 34 and extend through the cabinet door or it could be in a different location if styling and convenience is dictating so. A lever 82 is pivotally secured to frame at 83 and the other end ofit tied to slide 80 at 84. A bentover portion 85 of lever 82 will contact the actuator 12 of slug rejector and will open it for coin release whenever slide 80 is pulled downward.

Another pin 86 is secured to slide 80 for the purpose of contacting an arm 88 of bellcrank 69. When the slide 80 is moved downward, first it will lock all the other slides 33, then lever 82 will remove any coins or slugs from the slugrejector 10, pin 79 will reset the totalizer 13 erasing any credit setting in it and after a lost motion, pin 86 will open the escrow bucket 25 in the opposite direction as described before. This will dump the coins to a coin return tray where they can be picked up by the operator.

COM PUTING MECHANISM The control mechanism of this invention is designed around a differential mechanism which is performing a computing action. The appearance of this mechanism can vary greatly as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 7 but all these different variations contain a basic principle which is same for all of them. They all'have two inputs which are a credit input from totalizer and a vend price input which is activated by one of the operating slides 33. The computing action is sensing and comparing these two inputs and is giving an outputwhich may open the lockmechanism.

FIGS. 1 and 11 are showing a locklever 90 and a price lever 91, both pivotally mounted to a stud 92 which is secured to frame. A third member in this arrangement is a differential lever 93 which is pivotally secured at 95 to an arm 94 of locklever 90. Another bentover end 96 of lever 93 is held loosely against an arm 97 of lever 91 by means of a spring 98 which is anchored to lever 93 about halfway between end 96 and a centerpoint 99. The other end of spring 98 is fastened to bar 36 at 100. Bar 36 further has an extension 10] designed to rest against a bentover ear 102 of lever 91. Spring 98 and extension 101 are thus keeping this three member linkage against the extension 101 and a stoppin 103 which is secured to frame.

A sensing link 104 is pivotally secured to centerpoint 99 of lever 93 and its other bentover end 105 is guided in a hole of a bracket 106 in a manner that end 105 can sense the steps of'the totalizer disk 14. Another sensing link 107 is pivotally secured to the arm of lever 91 and guided in a guide hole of a bracket 108. Link 107 is provided with a series sensing pins 109 designed to selectively stop the counterclockwise motion of lever 91 whenever a price lever 41 is actuated by an operating slide 33.

The locklever has an arm 110 designed to block the motion of bellcrank54 after a pretravel. There are two bentover portions 111 and 112 with an opening inbetween. When an operating knob 34 is pulled, this arrangement can keep the machine locked after a pretravel of bar 36.

The action of the computing linkage is shown schematically in FIG. 12, where the full lines show the normal standby position and the dotted lines show a position with a 2 unit credit value and also a 2 unit vend price. As FIG. 12 shows the downward motion of point 101 permits spring 98 to'initia'te a double sensing action to sensing points and 109 which are sensing the credit and vend price information simultaneously. Suppose now there are C number of credit increments blocking point 105 and V number of vend price increments blocking point 109, then the opening oflockarm can be expressed by a formula CV=L where L will designate the n urnb e r of opening increments to arm 110. v

In FIG. 12 point 105 was stopped on increment 2 as shown in dotted lines. At the same moment point 109 was lining up with increment 3, leaving one more increment to go. Since the centerpoint 99 is fixed now, it will act as a fulcrum to lever 93 and spring 98 will move lockpoint 95 one increment up while point 109 is traveling from increment 3 to 2. The result is a lock opening increment to 0 position. The above formula will agree with this: 2 2 =0. Suppose now the vend price was I, then 2 1 =1 and that means lockpoint 95 would open two increments.

For some merchandise a higher vend price range is required. To satisfy this need, an extra fixed price, known as a base price, is added to the system. In FIG. 12 the. credit C will now be B C l and the vend price scale will have a different indicia which includes the base price (B V). The above formula will now be expressed as (B C- l) (B V) blhere B merely makespossible a higher vend price and demands a higher credit input to reach a lock opening. The credit expression B C l is used here to suit the scales in FIG. 12, while in practice the base price values are directly readable.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are showing an easily adjustable base price cam where the indicia on disk 14 indicates extra credit increments required to move the credit disk to blocking position for link 104. To make the adjustment, a push of disk 14 will disengage the ear 23 and its notch 22 and then a new position can be selected where the spring 24 will insure a positive engagement of the two.

Suppose now the case as previously explained has a base price adjustment of 6 as shown in FIG. 2, then (6+2--l)-(6+l )=0 what means the lock'willopen the same way as previously described but 7 credit increments are required now instead of 2. If a cent value is assigned to an increment in .the system, the vend price in the above case will be 35 cents.In practice the in'dieia on disk 14 and price lever 41 usually will be in true values, that is: B+5, 10, 15,20 etc.

A study of the system reveals that a higher base price adjustment simply means that more credit increments are required before fulcrum 99 can be fixed which in turn can make a lock opening possible. The purpose of torsion spring 18 is to protect the operator to lose credit if he pulls a knob 34 while still feeding coins into the machine. The pull of a knob 34 will cause point 105 to lock credit disk 14 but the light spring 18 still permits the advance to totalizer shaft and as soon the credit disk 14 is free, it will follow shaft 15 and permit the full credit information to be received by lever 93.

Various modifications are possible to make the same basic principle work as described before. They all in cude a differential mechanism with a credit and vend price input and a lock opening as its output. FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrating a gear type differential and FIG. 7 is showing a differential lever where'the center of the lever is serving as the output.

In FIG. 5 a planetary differential has all its three differential members pivotally mounted to a stud 115 which is secured to frame. This is a gear type equivalent of the linkage as shown in FIG. 1, because its credit input from totalizer disk 14 is received by a bentover ear 116 which transmits its sensing information to a differential pinion 117 which acts in the center of the differential. 'Pinion 117 is rotatably mounted to a stud 118 which is secured to one of the differential members 119. The vend price information from link 107 is transmitted to gear segment 120 while the output of'the differential goes again to the locklever 110 which has a gear segment 121 in mesh with pinion 117. The system is biased by two light tension springs 122 and 123. Spring 122 has one of its ends anchored to a stud 124 which is carried by bellcrank 54 and the other end is secured to the arm 125 which is held against a pin 126 of bellcrank 54. Spring 123 is anchored to base by means of a stud 127 and it gives a clockwise bias to credit arm 119 and will also keep locklever 110 against bellcrank 54.

The downward motion of any operating slide 33 will activate the system very similarly to the system in FIG. 1. The counterclockwise rotation of bellcrank 54 will permit the springs 122 and 123 to perform a sensing action to credit disk 14 and price lever 41 and if the formula C -B L gives a positive or 0 answer, the lockarm 110 will open and permit the lock portion 111 of bellcrank 54 a further motion. As can be seen, spring 122 tends to open the lockarm 110 while spring 123 tends to keep it closed. Lock segment 121 can also serve as an input to a changemaker mechanism where a connection can be conveniently made at 128.

In FIG. 7 anotherversion ofa differential lever 130 is shown. Its center 131 is pivotally secured to the locklever 132 which in turn is pivotally mounted to frame at 133. A spring 134, anchored to a lug 135 of bellcrank 54 and to an arm 136 of lever 130 is keeping the arm 136 against a pin 137 'of bellcrank 54 and can move lever 130 in a clockwise direction whenever bar 36 is pushed downward by one of the operating knobs. One

end 138 of the lever 130 is designed to sense the credit increments of the totalizer disk 14 and the other end 139 of lever 130 is connected to the .vend price sensing rod 107.

Both, the credit and vend price increments are shown to act in the opposite way as previously described. That means the smallest credit value has the highest blocking increment of disk 14 and the lowest vend price has the highest blocking increment on lever 41. The formula CV=L is still applicable here. In order to open the locklever 110, point l31 has to be moved to the right and this can happen only when the vend price is is equal or lower than the credit on disk 14. Point 139 will act then as a fulcrum to lever 130 and spring 134 will move the point 131 to the right and open lock 110. If the vend price is higher than the credit, point 138 will act as the fulcrum to lever 130 and spring 134 will keep lockarm closed. Locklever again can act as an input to a changemaker mechanism which can be tied to point 140. It is easy to see that same credit and vend price increments as in FIG. S,but in the opposite direction, can be used here again, but in order to get the same action to lever 130, the location of credit disk 14 and vend price lever 41 have to be reversed.

Generally speaking, all the possible modifications of the computing mechanism in this disclosure have one common basic principle which is feeding simultaneously the credit and vend price information to a differential mechanism which gives an output as a lock opening which further can serve as an input to a changemaking mechanism. In applied form the differential mechanism can be controlled by a differential lever, as in FIGS. 1 and 7 or by a gear type differential mechanism. The latter can further take any possible known from, such as a planetary differential (FIG. 5), a bevel or crown gear differential, a spur gear differential or a rack type differential. There is also a choice of selecting the inputs and outputs as was demonstrated in FIGS. 1 and 7. Further, the blocking increments can be increasing or decreasing as shown in FIGS. 1,5 and 7.

The credit and vend price input means, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in their most flexible form with a convenient adjustment, can also have a different shape. For simple machines, a base price provision can be eliminated (FIG. FIG. 7) and instead ofa torsion spring 18, gravity could be used. A pin 141 could be used to stop lever 91 in same position as the base price setting of lever 41 (FIGS. 1 and 4). This would eliminate the use of price levers 41- for the lowest price and if the machine is a two-price version, a simple one-piece price lever could be used as the blocking means for the higher price. Only the varying requirements of a particular application will determine which'is the most suitable combination of these numerous possibilities.

CHANGEMAKER MECHANISM be mounted to a suitable base member 145. It will support a coin tube 146 which will receive the coins having the smallest unit value which was assigned to a control increment of the system. The coins will rest on a base plate 147 which has a clearance opening 148 eccentrically located from the stack of coins. There are four identical changeblades 149 with clearance openings for coins concentric with the stack of coins in normal position, permitting all the coins to fall through them and rest on the base plate 147. It is apparent now that pulling 1 to 4 blades selectively to the left a distance equal to the eccentricity of opening 148 and the cointube hole, same number of coins will be freed to fall to a coin receiving tray as there were blades which were pulled. The pulling is done by a hook 150 which is pivotally secured at 151 to a lever 152 which in turn is pivotally secured to the base 145 at 153. Hook 150 has a light torsion spring 154 biasing it in a counterclockwise direction-against a selector bar 155. The latter is guided in a guide hole 156 and the other end of it is pivotally secured to point-95 of lever 93. If the thickness of coins is less than the increments given to point 95 another anchoring point for the selector bar 155 could be used closer to the pivot point 92 of lever 90 or the other alternative is offsetting the change pulling blades next to the hook 150 to equal the input increments.

A lockpawl 156 is used to give a precise positioning to bar 155. Pawl 156 is pivotally secured to base 145 at 157 and it has an arm with a follower pin 158 working in a cam groove 159 of bellcrank 54. During the motion of bellcrank 54 first the change bar 155 will move up if there is change coming, then after the lockpoint of bellcrank 54 is passed a camrise 160 will push the positioner 161 of lever l56'into one of the four notches 162, giving a precise positioning to bar 155 and hook 150 which was following it.'As the motion of bellcrank 54 continues a pin 163 which normally holds an arm 164 of lever 152 in its home position which in turn keeps all change blade holes in line with the coin tube and keeps bar 155 and hook 150 clear in notches 165 of changeblades 149, will start to move lever 152 in a clockwise direction which will pull the hook 150 and a number of changeblades which was determined by the 7 I and give a positive engagement to lever 152 which will insure a faultless operation. The bellcrank 54 can be same as in FIG. 1 which is the non-change version, but the second lock ear 111 has to be removed because the excessive credit will lead to a change giving action now.

While the non-change version can be operated very fast and the lock parts can be built strong enough to tolerate a violent action, a very fast pull of a knob 34 in changemaker version can cause a faulty selection of change blades 149, leading usually to a short change. To overcome this problem a slowdown device has to be addedto act just about where the locking point of the machine is. Various methods such as a'pneumatic'or hydraulic dashpot, mechanically acting speedlock or geared up rotating speed brakes could be applied here. FIGS. 3 and show a pneumatic one-way dashpot 167,which is available on the market, to act just before the lock-point of the machine is reached. A piston rod 168 is pivotally secured to a multiplying lever 169 which again in pivotally mounted to frame at 170 and which has a cam follower pin 171 in the camslot 159 of bellcrank 54. At the latter rotates, its cam rise 160 will move lever 169 to the right causing a multiplied motion to the piston of dashpot 167 and slowing down any rapid motion thereby. There is no resistance during the rest of the stroke and during return stroke because of the one'way action of dashpot 167. During normal operation the arrangement causes very little resistance.

A reference is made now to FIG. 10 which is showing the changemaker giving a three coin change. There is a four increment lock opening from differential lever 93 which has raised the selector link 155 and hook'150 slightly below the level of the third changeblade 149 while positioner 161 is holding this position precisely. Then the pull of hook 150 to the left caused a separation of link 155 and hook 150 pulling three blades together with three coins 172 from coin stack. A small angle on a bentover end 173 of link 155 is giving a clearance for the moving blade just below and the link itself will hold all bladesabove the level of separation positively in place. During return stroke lever 152 will push blades 149 back and the totalizer reset will allow link 155 to drop to its normal position as shown in FIG. 8.

A modified selector mechanism for pulling the changeblades 149 is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Same reference numerals are used here for parts having functions previously described. The main difference in this version is the hook 150 which is pivotally secured to selector link 155 at 151 and it has no spring. Link 155 is operated by output point of the differential lever 93 which can raise both the link 155 and hook 150 within the notches 165 of changeblades 149. The actuating lever 152 is pivotally secured to the far side of base at 153 and it has two bentover ears 161 and 210. Ear 161 will serve a double function acting as a positioner to hook while entering one of the notches 162 for precise positioning and transmitting themotion of actuating lever 152 to the hook 150 as the pin 163 of bellcrank 54 gives lever 152 a clockwise motion as shown in FIG. 21. Bar 210 extends across the ends of changeblades 149 and can push all of them back to their initial position during return stroke. FlG.

21 is showing a three increment rise of point 95 which leads to a selection and pullout of two changeblades 149.

FlG. 20 further illustrates an alternative method to resist a possible overshooting of point 95 during a fast operation. Instead of a dashpot slowdown, a holding lever 211 is used here to prevent any upward overshooting to point 105 together with' point 95, Lever 211 is pivoting freely on vtotalizer shaft 15 while its light tension spring 212 is giving it a counterclockwise bias which is restricted by an ear 213 of cam 14 and a shoulder 214 of link holding an arm 215 of lever 211. A series of positioning notches 216 are provided to coact with the flattened sensing end 105 of link 104. As the latter is allowed to land on one of the steps of cam 14, there is a notch 216 next to the sensing end 105 to hold it as soon lever 211 is free to move. A credit setting, allowing an opening to locklever 90, will first move ear 213 to the left while arm 215 is still holding lever 211. As soon point 105 lands on a cam step, spring 98 starts to move lever 93 and raise point 95 and link 155 which in turn will allow spring 212 to pull one of the notches 216 to an engagement with sensing end 105 restricting a possible overshooting of hook 150 because any inertia in the linkage tending to work against spring 98 is restricted now. As soon the totalizer 13 and cam 14 are reset, ear 213 will contact lever 211 and break the engagement of point 105 and lever 211 allowing the linkage reset.

Various other modifications are possible among which is a possibility of making the change pulling blades pivoting instead of sliding. An empty coin tube sensor with the correct change label, which is wellknown in the art, can be added and it is not shown. The changemaker mechanism can be designed as a removable unit and added later to a non-changed system as an accessory. It can be also adapted to electrical control systems where the selection increments are electromechanically controlled and the motor driven mechanism does not have any overshooting problem.

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING UNIT In a mechanical machine where one object is to keep the operating force to a minimum, it is important to use a dispensing method which consumes little energy and therefore will match the light duty action of the control mechanism as previously described.

FIGS. 14-17 show a dispensing mechanism suitable for solid rectangular shape merchandise such as cigarette packages. The dispensing principle employs a shuttling frame which is normally lining up with an offset opening in a base plate and which can be moved to a lineup with a storage column for picking up a merchandise package. The return stroke will move the frame and package back to the lineup position with the opening for merchandise delivery.

FIGS. 14-17 show a method where a merchandise column 175 is diagonally offset from a hole 176 in a base plate 177. A shuttle frame 178 which preferably can be moldedfrom a plastic material, has a pin 179 which is guided in a diagonal guide slot 180 in one corner of it. The opposite corner of frame 178 has an ear 181 with a hole in it which will receive the end of an actuating rod 182. The other end of the latter is con nected to the operating slide 33 for manual operation while a guide hole 183 in plate 177 will guide it on the bottom. The actuating rod 182 further will have a cam slope 184 which can move freely through a slot 185 next to hole 183. As the rod 182 is moved down, the frame 178 will be moved to a position which lines it up with the column 175. This will allow a drop of a merchandise package 186 to plate 177. The upward stroke of rod 182 will move the frame 178together with the package back to its initial position again which lines up with, hole 176 permitting a release of the merchandise and a fall to a delivery tray.

The base plate 177 can support a series of merchandise columns next to each other. It has one side bent to a U-shape and then further up as shown in FIG. 16. The structure will hold down the frame 178 by means of an extension 187 when the camsurface 184 is working upwards. Columns 175 are located by two bentover ears 188 which are notched on their lower side and which are entering a locating notch 189 of the base plate 177. Ears 188 are further supporting a pivot rod 190 for an empty sensing lever 191 which serves the purpose of locking the operating slide 33 for customer protection when a column is empty. An arm 192 of lever 191 is used to move an empty sign 193 to a position where it can display the word empty through a window of cabinet door (not shown). Pivot rod also supports a light torsion spring 194 which gives lever 191 a clockwise bias. When the last merchandise package has been delivered, an arm 195.which is resting against merchandise packages when the column is loaded, will be free'and the spring 194 will move a lockarm 196 againstan extended portion 197 of the operating slide 33 and as soon the latter has been returned to its'normal position, arm 196 will move to a blocking position for slide 33. A slope 198 is used to be contacted by a portion 197 of operating slide 33 for the purpose of taking any springload away from arm and insuring a free fall during merchandise delivery. Arm 192 is connected to empty label 193 directly, as shown, or with another link if the location ofempty sign has to be different for styling purposes.

A different arrangement of offsetting the column and delivery hole in plate 177 is shown in FIG. 18 where all the identical parts bear the same reference number as the version just described. This offsetting makes the rectangular merchandise package to rest. on all four corners whether it rests on frame 178 or plate 177. A rotary motion is given to frame 178 by rod 182 using same camming principleas described before. Frame 178 is guided by two tabs 19 which are designed to fit freely to two opposite arcs centered to the rectangular opening 200 which is angularly offset from column 175. Tabs 199 can have a shoulder 201 which will keep frame 178 tied to plate 177. Flexing or turning them to the position before operating rod 182 is in place will permit the assembly of frame 178.

Both of the above described principles have a number of advantages over the existing methods. The most important is the fact that the delivery motion is relatively short and very little power is consumed to release a merchandise package. The cam action to accomplish the motion permits a pretravel and overtravel while a precise motion to the frame 178 is easily controlled. This makes possible the use of linkages reaching to the other rows of columns which are further inside the cabinet. These linkages can be made to uncouple for loading purposes with a comfortable clearance in coupling points. Another advantage is the fact that merchandise cannot be 7 removed from columns by thieves which is possible when open side pushtype columns are used.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION FIG. 13 is showing a diagram illustrating the sequence of various motions as they take place during forward and return stroke whenever an operating knob 34 is pulled and proper amount of coins have been received by the machine. The operating stroke can vary in length but for practical purposes and for the light actingoperating mechanism just described, a 2 inch length is sufficient. It is divided by a vertical line, called lockline, which shows the position when lockmembers 110 and 111 come'together and which separates actions taking place before and after this line.

Generally, there are two groups of actions. First, a number of restrictions applied to operating slides 33 which permit and require a full stroke of an operating slide when a required credit value is established in the machine. The second group consists of the motions which reset the machine, accept coins, give change and deliver a product. The restrictions can be further divided to two groups. First, the ones restricting the motion of an operating slide 33 which are well known and then the control of the locklever 110 which is restricting the motion of the operating bar 36 and which was the main object of this invention.

In FIG. 13 the first line illustrates the restriction of lockslides 38 which permit only one operating slide to proceed. The second line shows the timing when pin 35 becomes fully engaged to bar 36 which in turn will couple the slide 33 to the action of the fullstroke pawl 62 which acts to give a one-way restriction after the lock line is passed and which lasts almost to the end of the stroke. On the beginning of the return stroke there is a small unrestricted motion and then the pawl 62 will act again but in the opposite direction.

The object of the second group of restrictions is to perform the computing action before the lockline is reached. The division lines here show the timing when different credit and vend price values act to block the sensing points of sensing rods 104 and 107. The third five-division line shows the timing when lock 110 clears the ear 111 for exact price as marked and the timingwhen a-further opening of l-4 increments will take place.

If the lockline is allowed to pass, the resetting of totalizer 13 and coin acceptance, which means opening the escrow bucket 25 and guiding the coins to cashbox, will take place. Further, the delivery mechanism starts to move frame 178 to the position which lines up with its column 175. The merchandise will fall now to plate 177 and only thereturn stroke will deliver it, requiring the operator to complete the full stroke of a slide 33 before he can get his merchandise.

The last section of the diagram illustrates the action of a changemaker showing the timing of the dashpot action placed before lockline. Then after the lockline, the positioning pawl 156 comes in action and finally changeblades 149 are pulled and positively returned with a slight lost motion which is the clearances of the mechanism.

The foregoing shows that any single knob 34 is free to move up to the lockline and only the position of totalizer disk 14 and price lever 41 are determining whether the lock opening can take place which in turn permits the further motions of the machine and the delivery of the merchandise.

Suppose now a practical case is taken where a cent value is assigned to a control increment and a 25 cent credit is received by coin slot 11. This will advance the totalizer disk 14 five increments and the coin or coins will fall to the escrow bucket 25. The operator now has two options: to get his money back or make a purchase. If he is pulling knob 81, the very first part of motion given to slide 80 will move all lockslides 38 to the left, locking all the merchandise slides 33 thereby. Then lever 74 will reset the totalizer which means disk 14 will be moved back to its normal position, lever 82 will open the slug rejector to remove any deformed coins or slugs which did not pass it and finally pin 86 will open the escrow bucket and dump the coins in it to the coin receiving tray. I

If an attempt is made to buy a merchandise having a higher price than 25 cents, lock l10 will not open but the credit setting on totalizer disk 14 is maintained. If an operating knob with a l0 cent vend price is pulled, the exact price machine of FIG. 1 will stay locked too because of lock ear 111. But if the machine is a changemaker version as in FIG. 8, the locklever 90 will open to the position as shown in FIG. 9 and a further motion of the operating slide 33 is possible. Now operating bar 36 will contact the connecting link 76 and lever 74 will reset the totalizer 13. Then ear 72 will operate lever 69 which will open the escrow bucket 25 to the cashbox. Next the changemaker lever 152 is contacted by pin 163 and three change blades will be pulled as shown in FIG. 10. At the same time cam surface 184 of rod 182 started to move frame 178 causing a merchandise drop to plate 177 (FIG. 17). During return stroke which is powered by spring 60, all the mechanism parts will be returned and frame 178 will be moved back to its initial position which lines up with hole 176 and permits a fall of the merchandise package to the delivery tray.

Higher price ranges than illustrated are possible without a change in basic structure. The control mechanism and operating unit could be used in conjunction with different merchandise delivary units which are connected to operating slides 33. Overload springs to protect some mechanismmembers are not shown in illustrations. They can b8 easily added to operating slides 33, coin return slide 80, coin return lever 74 and change pulling lever 152.

Various other modifications of the controls and different arrangements of the units and sections 'in the system are possible to satisfy the requirementsof styling, maintenance, servicing etc. It is the intention therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

'What I claim is;

1. In a mechanically operated coin controlled merchandise machine having a coin insert, a coin validating unit, a totalizing unit to give one incremental advance for each smallest unit value of inserted coins as used in system for. establishinga credit value, a merchandise dispensing unit and a control system comprising of an operating bar spring biased against a stop, a series of operating means together with interlocking slides to permit the motion of only one of said operating means at a time, each of said operating means being capable of moving said operating bar against said spring bias, said operating bar having locking means capable of stopping the motion of it together with any of said operating means after a pretravel of said operating bar has taken place, said locking means being releasable by a differential mechanism, said differential mechanism having two input sensing means and one output motion, said differential mechanism being held in an initial position by said operating bar and a biasing force, both of said input sensing means being selectively blockable by input blocking means, an absence of said output motion keeping said locking means in a locked position as in said initial position, the motion of said operating bar letting said biasing force to move both of said input sensing means to perform a simultaneous sensing action to both of said input blocking means, one of said input blocking means having C number of selectable blocking increments proportional to said credit value, the other of said input blocking means having V number of selectable blocking increments, said V increments being activated individually by said operating means, each of said V number of blocking increments corresponding to a vend price assigned to said operating means, the number of said C and V blocking increments controlling said locking means according to a formula CV=L in which L is said output motion of said differential mechanism designating the number of opening increments for said locking means, said opening taking place during said 'pretravel I when said operating bar is moved by one of said operating means but only when the L value in said formulais positive or 0, said opening being activated by said biasing force applied to said input sensing means through said differential mechanism, said locking means staying in locked position when said L value in said formula is negative, the existence of said output motion L causing said locking means to open permitting a further motion to said operating bar, said further motion being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.

2. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar is perpendicular to the motion of said operating means, said operating bar being restricted to a parallel motion by at least two bellcranks pivotally secured to said operating bar and to a base member, the other arms of said bellcranks being pivotally secured to a connecting bar having same length as said operating bar, the motion of any of said operating means being capable of contacting said operating bar and giving it a parallel motion regardless where said operating means is contacting said operating bar, said operating bar or one of said bellcranks actuating said differential mechanism, said differential mechanism controlling said locking means to unlock said operating bar or one of said bellcranks according to said formula CV=L 3. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar is perpendicular to the motion of said operating means, said operating bar being restricted to a parallel motion by at least two bellcranks pivotally secured to said operating bar and ma base member, the other arms of said bellcranks being pivotally secured to a connecting bar having same length as said operating bar, the motion of any of said operating means being capable of contacting said operating bar and giving it a parallel motion regardless where said operating means is contacting said operating bar, any of said operating means being engageable to said operating bar before the end of said pretravel, said engagement being given by a small sliding motion between a contact point of said operating means and said operating bar, the extent of said sliding motion being the difference of an are described by said bellcranks and a straightline motion of said operating means, said engagement preventing a faulty operation of said control system.

4. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said C number of selectable blocking increments being controlled by an incrementally rotating credit shaft, said credit shaft being rotated by said totalizing unit, said credit shaft advancing one increment per each smallest unit value of inserted coins, said credit shaft rotating a stepping cam, said credit cam having an equally progressing radial distance for each said shaft increment, each said radial distance representing one ofsaid C number of blocking increments, said blocking increments providing a sensable credit input for said differential mechanism.

5. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said C number of selectable blocking increments being controlled by an incrementally rotating credit shaft, said credit shaft being rotated by said totalizing unit, said credit shaft advancing one increment per each smallest unit value of inserted coins, said credit shaft rotating a stepped cam, said credit cam having an equally progressing radial distance for each said shaft increment, each said radial distance representing one of said C number of blocking increments, said credit cam having a sensing station with first said C blocking increment of said credit cam being one of said rotational increments away from the registry'of said sensing station in an initial position of said credit cam, said credit cam having means for incrementally and lockingly adjusting the relationship of said first blocking increment and said sensing station, any said increasing adjusting step requiring one extra incremental advance of said credit shaft to reach a registry of said first blocking increment and said sensing station, said incremental adjustment having indexing means, each said indexing position bearing indicia referring to an extra coin value required to advance said first blocking increment to registry with said sensing station, said blocking increments providing a sensable credit input for said differential mechanism.

6. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein any of said operating means having means to individually set said V number of blocking increments in front ofa common sensing member, said V number of blocking increments being inactive in said initial position of any of said operating means, a short motion of said operating means setting said V number of blocking increments to a position where they can selectively block the motion of said common sensing member, said common sensing member being actuated by said differential mechanism, said common sensing member transmitting said V number of blocking increments to said differential mechanism to serve as one of said inputs.

7. A coin controlled merchandise machine according toclaim 1 wherein any of said operating means coacting with-a pivoting vend price lever, said vend price lever having an inactive position when said operating means is in its initial position, said vend price lever being moved to an active position by said operating means within a short distance after said operating means is moved out of said initial position, said active position being maintained during the rest of the stroke of said operating means, said vend price lever coacting with a sensing link, said sensing link moving perpen dicularly to the motion of said operating means, said vend price levers providing said V number pf blocking increments, said sensing link having means to contact 7 signed to said operating means, each said active vend price lever transmitting said V number of blocking increments to said differential mechanism by means of said sensing link, said V number of blocking increments acting as one of said inputs to said differential mechanism.

8. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a differential lever, said differential lever having two end points and a centerpoint C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments, one of said endpoints V receiving said V number ofyendprice blocking increments, the other of said endpoints L controlling said locking means, said differential lever having an initial position in which a biasing force is holding said L 'pbimagaasta s'tspaad aw'poim against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point to move incrementally accordi ng to said formula CV=L only when said L value is positive or 0," a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.

9. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a differential lever, said differential lever having two endpoints and a centerpoint C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments, said centerpoint C coacting with a biased holding lever, said holding lever having a series of notches engageable with anyone of said incremental positions of said centerpoint C, one of said endpoints V receiving said V number of vend price blocking increments, the other of said endpoints L controlling said locking means, said differential lever having an initial position in which a biasing force is holding said L point against a'sia ahd said V point against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position and said holding lever in an initial position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula C V=L only when said L value is positive or 0, a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said motion 61- saidt' point letting said bias of said holding lever move one of said notches in said'holding lever into an engagement with said centerpoint C, said engagement preventing any overshooting to said centerpoint C as said overshooting may take place during a fast operation of said differential mechanism, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating being controlled by a differential lever, said differential leverhavinga centerpoint L srviaga 'aasutsut sad" two endpoints serving as inputs, one of said endpoints C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments and the other of said endpoints V receiving said V number of vend price blocking increments, said L point being pivotally secured to said locking means, said differential mechanism having an ini tial position in which a biasingfiif'c' isiioldirig said Learnt Easting Steam said V point against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula C-V=L only when said L value is positive or O, a mo tion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.

11. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a gear type differential, said differential gear having two input members and one output member, one of said input members having means to sense said C number of credit blocking increments, the other of said input members having means to sense said V number of vend price blocking increments, both of said input members having a biasing force applied to them, said output member L being connected to said C and V input members through said differential gearing,

saidL member operating saidlocking means, said differential gearing having an initial position, said biasing force holding one of said input members against said operating bar directly or indirectly and said locking means against a stop in said initial position, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated bysaid biasing force during said pretravel,

said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula CV='L only whensaid L value is positive or 07"5' motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operat ing bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit. 2

12. A coin controlled ntferchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number ofopeningiricrements of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemake r unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating member and an operating motion, said selector link and said separating member having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said separating member being also movable by said operating motion, said operating motion being given by said operating bar after said opening of said lock mechanism, said selector link and said separating member being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to said formula CV=L the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating member in relation to said coin pulling g b l a des anysaid L value higher than o, raising said separating member to engage and said selector link to disengage L number of said coin pulling blades, said operating motion following Said ement ass n sai .Ssna tias member to move [number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.

13. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number of opening increments of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemaker i unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating lever and an operating lever, said separating lever being pivotally secured to said operating lever and biased against said selector link, said selector link and said separating lever having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said operating lever being movable together with said separating lever by said operating bar after said opening of said lock mechanism, said selector link and said separating lever being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to 's'aia'rormins 'CV L the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating lever in relation to said coin pulling blades, any said L value higher than 0 raising said separating lever to engage and said selector link to disengage L number of said coin pulling blades, the motion of said operating lever following said engagement causing said separating lever to move L number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.

14. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number of opening increments of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemaker unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating lever and an operating lever, said separating lever being pivotallysecured to saidselector link, said selector link and said separating lever having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said operating lever being movable together with said separating lever by said operating bar after said opening of said lockmechanism, said selector link and said separating lever being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to said formula CV=L the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating lever in relation to said coin pulling bladesjany Saia L v'aiuahr herrrss Warring said separating lever to engage and said selector link to disengage L iiiirnber'of Sarasota brimfiwsdegaena' tion of said operating lever following said engagement causing said separating member to move L number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.

15. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for solid rectangular shape merchandise packages, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being diagonally offset, said frame having an actuatingmechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of a connecting linkage to connect the motion of said operating means to said frame, said lining upwith said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said operating means moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said base plate, the return stroke of said operating means moving said frame back to its initial. position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray.

16. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for a solid rectangular shape merchandise package, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being angularly offset, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of a connecting linkage to connect the motion of said operating means to said frame, said frame lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said operating means moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said base plate the return stroke of said operating means moving said frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray.

17. A coin controlled merchandise machine accord-- ing to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit opening for solid rectangular shape merchandise packages, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being diagonally offset, said frame lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of an actuating rod, one end of said actuating rod being connected to said operating means aid the other end being guided in a guide hole in said base plate, said other end having a bent back portion with a cam surface, said cam surface working through a hole in said frame, the motion of said cam surface causing said frame to shuttle between said diagonally offset opening and said magazine, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said actuating rod moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said said base plate, the return stroke of said actuating rod moving said frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray.

18. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for solid rectangular shape merchandise packages, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being diagonally offset, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of a connecting linkage to connect the motion of said operating means to said frame, said frame lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said operating means moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said base plate the return stroke of said operating means moving sat frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray, said magazine including a pivoting empty locking lever having a sensing arm and a locking arm, said empty locking lever having an empty position when there are no merchandise packages in said magazine and a nonempty position when there is at least one said merchandise package in said magazine, said locking arm being capable of stopping said operating slide in said empty position, said sensing arm resting against said merchandise packages and said locking arm clearing said operatingslide in said non-empty position. 

1. In a mechanically operated coin controlled merchandise machine having a coin insert, a coin validating unit, a totalizing unit to give one incremental advance for each smallest unit value of inserted coins as used in system for establishing a credit value, a merchandise dispensing unit and a control system comprising of an operating bar spring biased against a stop, a series of operating means together with interlocking slides to permit the motion of only one of said operating means at a time, each of said operating means being capable of moving said operating bar against said spring bias, said operating bar having locking means capable of stopping the motion of it together with any of said operating means after a pretravel of said operating bar has taken place, said locking means being releasable by a differential mechanism, said differential mechanism having two input sensing means and one output motion, said differential mechanism being held in An initial position by said operating bar and a biasing force, both of said input sensing means being selectively blockable by input blocking means, an absence of said output motion keeping said locking means in a locked position as in said initial position, the motion of said operating bar letting said biasing force to move both of said input sensing means to perform a simultaneous sensing action to both of said input blocking means, one of said input blocking means having C number of selectable blocking increments proportional to said credit value, the other of said input blocking means having V number of selectable blocking increments, said V increments being activated individually by said operating means, each of said V number of blocking increments corresponding to a vend price assigned to said operating means, the number of said C and V blocking increments controlling said locking means according to a formula C-V L in which L is said output motion of said differential mechanism designating the number of opening increments for said locking means, said opening taking place during said pretravel when said operating bar is moved by one of said operating means but only when the L value in said formula is positive or ''''0,'''' said opening being activated by said biasing force applied to said input sensing means through said differential mechanism, said locking means staying in locked position when said L value in said formula is negative, the existence of said output motion L causing said locking means to open permitting a further motion to said operating bar, said further motion being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 1. In a mechanically operated coin controlled merchandise machine having a coin insert, a coin validating unit, a totalizing unit to give one incremental advance for each smallest unit value of inserted coins as used in system for establishing a credit value, a merchandise dispensing unit and a control system comprising of an operating bar spring biased against a stop, a series of operating means together with interlocking slides to permit the motion of only one of said operating means at a time, each of said operating means being capable of moving said operating bar against said spring bias, said operating bar having locking means capable of stopping the motion of it together with any of said operating means after a pretravel of said operating bar has taken place, said locking means being releasable by a differential mechanism, said differential mechanism having two input sensing means and one output motion, said differential mechanism being held in An initial position by said operating bar and a biasing force, both of said input sensing means being selectively blockable by input blocking means, an absence of said output motion keeping said locking means in a locked position as in said initial position, the motion of said operating bar letting said biasing force to move both of said input sensing means to perform a simultaneous sensing action to both of said input blocking means, one of said input blocking means having C number of selectable blocking increments proportional to said credit value, the other of said input blocking means having V number of selectable blocking increments, said V increments being activated individually by said operating means, each of said V number of blocking increments corresponding to a vend price assigned to said operating means, the number of said C and V blocking increments controlling said locking means according to a formula C-V L in which L is said output motion of said differential mechanism designating the number of opening increments for said locking means, said opening taking place during said pretravel when said operating bar is moved by one of said operating means but only when the L value in said formula is positive or ''''0,'''' said opening being activated by said biasing force applied to said input sensing means through said differential mechanism, said locking means staying in locked position when said L value in said formula is negative, the existence of said output motion L causing said locking means to open permitting a further motion to said operating bar, said further motion being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 2. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar is perpendicular to the motion of said operating means, said operating bar being restricted to a parallel motion by at least two bellcranks pivotally secured to said operating bar and to a base member, the other arms of said bellcranks being pivotally secured to a connecting bar having same length as said operating bar, the motion of any of said operating means being capable of contacting said operating bar and giving it a parallel motion regardless where said operating means is contacting said operating bar, said operating bar or one of said bellcranks actuating said differential mechanism, said differential mechanism controlling said locking means to unlock said operating bar or one of said bellcranks according to said formula C-V L.
 3. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said operating bar is perpendicular to the motion of said operating means, said operating bar being restricted to a parallel motion by at least two bellcranks pivotally secured to said operating bar and to a base member, the other arms of said bellcranks being pivotally secured to a connecting bar having same length as said operating bar, the motion of any of said operating means being capable of contacting said operating bar and giving it a parallel motion regardless where said operating means is contacting said operating bar, any of said operating means being engageable to said operating bar before the end of said pretravel, said engagement being given by a small sliding motion between a contact point of said operating means and said operating bar, the extent of said sliding motion being the difference of an arc described by said bellcranks and a straightline motion of said operating means, said engagement preventing a faulty operation of said control system.
 4. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said C number of selectable blocking increments being controlled by an incrementally rotating credit shaft, said credit shaft being rotated by said totalizing unit, said credit shaft advancing one increment per each smallest unit value of inserted coins, said credit shaft rotAting a stepping cam, said credit cam having an equally progressing radial distance for each said shaft increment, each said radial distance representing one of said C number of blocking increments, said blocking increments providing a sensable credit input for said differential mechanism.
 5. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said C number of selectable blocking increments being controlled by an incrementally rotating credit shaft, said credit shaft being rotated by said totalizing unit, said credit shaft advancing one increment per each smallest unit value of inserted coins, said credit shaft rotating a stepped cam, said credit cam having an equally progressing radial distance for each said shaft increment, each said radial distance representing one of said C number of blocking increments, said credit cam having a sensing station with first said C blocking increment of said credit cam being one of said rotational increments away from the registry of said sensing station in an initial position of said credit cam, said credit cam having means for incrementally and lockingly adjusting the relationship of said first blocking increment and said sensing station, any said increasing adjusting step requiring one extra incremental advance of said credit shaft to reach a registry of said first blocking increment and said sensing station, said incremental adjustment having indexing means, each said indexing position bearing indicia referring to an extra coin value required to advance said first blocking increment to registry with said sensing station, said blocking increments providing a sensable credit input for said differential mechanism.
 6. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein any of said operating means having means to individually set said V number of blocking increments in front of a common sensing member, said V number of blocking increments being inactive in said initial position of any of said operating means, a short motion of said operating means setting said V number of blocking increments to a position where they can selectively block the motion of said common sensing member, said common sensing member being actuated by said differential mechanism, said common sensing member transmitting said V number of blocking increments to said differential mechanism to serve as one of said inputs.
 7. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein any of said operating means coacting with a pivoting vend price lever, said vend price lever having an inactive position when said operating means is in its initial position, said vend price lever being moved to an active position by said operating means within a short distance after said operating means is moved out of said initial position, said active position being maintained during the rest of the stroke of said operating means, said vend price lever coacting with a sensing link, said sensing link moving perpendicularly to the motion of said operating means, said vend price levers providing said V number pf blocking increments, said sensing link having means to contact any of said V number of blocking increments with said vend price levers are in said active position, said vend price having said V number of blocking increments incrementally adjustable in relation to said sensing link, each said adjustable position referring to an indicia, said indicia referring to vend prices individually assigned to said operating means, each said active vend price lever transmitting said V number of blockIng increments to said differential mechanism by means of said sensing link, said V number of blocking increments acting as one of said inputs to said differential mechanism.
 8. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a differential lever, said differential lever having two end points aNd a centerpoint C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments, one of said endpoints V receiving said V number of vend price blocking increments, the other of said endpoints L controlling said locking means, said differential lever having an initial position in which a biasing force is holding said L point against a stop and said V point against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point to move incrementally according to said formula C-V L only when said L value is positive or ''''0,'''' a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 9. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a differential lever, said differential lever having two endpoints and a centerpoint C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments, said centerpoint C coacting with a biased holding lever, said holding lever having a series of notches engageable with anyone of said incremental positions of said centerpoint C, one of said endpoints V receiving said V number of vend price blocking increments, the other of said endpoints L controlling said locking means, said differential lever having an initial position in which a biasing force is holding said L point against a stop and said V point against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position and said holding lever in an initial position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula C-V L only when said L value is positive or ''''0,'''' a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said motion of said L point letting said bias of said holding lever move one of said notches in said holding lever into an engagement with said centerpoint C, said engagement preventing any overshooting to said centerpoint C as said overshooting may take place during a fast operation of said differential mechanism, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 10. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a differential lever, said differential lever having a centerpoint L serving as an output and two endpoints serving as inputs, one of said endpoints C receiving said C number of credit blocking increments and the other of said endpoints V receiving said V number of vend price blocking increments, said L point being pivotally secured to said locking means, said differential mechanism having an initial position in which a biasing force is holding saiD L point against a stop and said V point against said operating bar directly or indirectly, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula C-V L only when said L value is positive or ''''0,'''' a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 11. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said differential mechanism being controlled by a gear type differential, said differential gear having two input members and one output member, one of said input members having means to sense said C number of credit blocking increments, the other of said input members having means to sense said V number of vend price blocking increments, both of said input members having a biasing force applied to them, said output member L being connected to said C and V input members through said differential gearing, said L member operating said locking means, said differential gearing having an initial position, said biasing force holding one of said input members against said operating bar directly or indirectly and said locking means against a stop in said initial position, said initial position holding said locking means in a locked position, said locked position permitting only a pretravel to said operating bar, a computing action letting said V and C points perform a simultaneous sensing action to said C and V number of blocking increments, said computing action being initiated by said operating bar and activated by said biasing force during said pretravel, said computing action letting said L point move incrementally according to said formula C-V L only when said L value is positive or ''''0,'''' a motion of said L point opening said locking means and permitting said operating bar continue its motion, said continued motion of said operating bar and said operating means being used to dispense a merchandise, accept inserted coins and reset said totalizing unit.
 12. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number of opening increments of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemaker unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating member and an operating motion, said selector link and said separating member having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said separating member being also movable by said operating motion, said operating motion being given by said operating bar after said opening of said lock mechanism, said selector link and said separating member being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to said formula C-V L, the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating member in relatIon to said coin pulling blades, any said L value higher than ''''0'''' raising said separating member to engage and said selector link to disengage L number of said coin pulling blades, said operating motion following said engagement causing said separating member to move L number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.
 13. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number of opening increments of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemaker unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating lever and an operating lever, said separating lever being pivotally secured to said operating lever and biased against said selector link, said selector link and said separating lever having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said operating lever being movable together with said separating lever by said operating bar after said opening of said lock mechanism, said selector link and said separating lever being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to said formula C-V L, the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating lever in relation to said coin pulling blades, any said L value higher than ''''0'''' raising said separating lever to engage and said selector link to disengage L number of said coin pulling blades, the motion of said operating lever following said engagement causing said separating lever to move L number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.
 14. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said L number of opening increments of said differential mechanism serving as an input for a selector mechanism used on a changemaker unit capable of separating and releasing a selected number of coins out of a coinstack by means of a series of coin pulling blades, said selector mechanism having a selector link, a separating lever and an operating lever, said separating lever being pivotally secured to said selector link, said selector link and said separating lever having freedom to move together in an opening of said coin pulling blades parallel to said stack of coins, said selector link preventing a motion to all said coin pulling blades in an initial position of said selector mechanism, said operating lever being movable together with said separating lever by said operating bar after said opening of said lockmechanism, said selector link and said separating lever being incrementally raised together by said differential mechanism before said lock opening according to said formula C-V L, the distance assigned to said L value equalling the thickness or pitch of said coin pulling blades, any positive L value changing the position of said selector link and said separating lever in relation to said coin pulling blades, any said L value higher than ''''0'''' raising said separating lever to engage and said selector link to disengage L number of said coin pulling blades, the motion of said operating lever following said engagement causing said separating member to move L number of said coin pulling blades together with L number of coins out of said coin stack to fall on a delivery tray.
 15. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for solid rectangular shape merchandise packages, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being diagonally offset, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of a connecting linkage to connect the motion of said operating means to said frame, said lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said operating means moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said base plate, the return stroke of said operating means moving said frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray.
 16. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for a solid rectangular shape merchandise package, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being angularly offset, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of a connecting linkage to connect the motion of said operating means to said frame, said frame lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said operating means moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, said lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said base plate , the return stroke of said operating means moving said frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray.
 17. A coin controlled merchandise machine according to claim 1 wherein said merchandise dispensing unit consisting of a base plate provided with a clearance opening for solid rectangular shape merchandise packages, a magazine holding said merchandise packages freely in a stacked position and a frame having a shape of said merchandise packages with a clearance in it, said frame being smaller in height than the thickness of one of said merchandise packages, said opening in said base plate and said magazine being diagonally offset, said frame lining up with said offset opening in said base plate in its initial position, said frame having an actuating mechanism for moving it between said offset opening and said magazine, said actuating mechanism consisting of an actuating rod, one end of said actuating rod being connected to said operating means aid the other end being guided in a guide hole in said base plate, said other end having a bent back portion with a cam surface, said cam surface working through a hole in said frame, the motion of said cam surface causing said frame to shuttle between said diagonally offset opening and said magazine, said stack of merchandise resting on top of said frame, the motion of said actuating rod moving said frame to a lineup position with said merchandise magazine after said pretravel, sAid lineup permitting a fall of one merchandise package into said frame to rest on said said base plate, the return stroke of said actuating rod moving said frame back to its initial position to line up with said opening in said base plate, said lineup in said initial position causing a release of one of said merchandise packages to fall to a delivery tray. 